No, it isn't. Wilspy would have been way too old to have had him in the 60s, given that she's older than Albus. LOL! Remember he said that his grandfather worked with the animals and plants on the grounds of the school? That's Tchampon, from RaM, and you know whose daddy he is! ;-)Wilspy would have been -- runs out for the calculator -- 144 when Twiskett was born. Since you're interested in knowing more about her, all of Wilspy's offspring are in Canada with Albus's cousin's extended family. (She does visit!) Despite being too old to have had a baby in the 60s, she is not too old for romance! You may have noted her get-up when she fetched Albus & Severus their coffee in the chapter just before the Halloween chapters. (Of Scotch, Choices, and Ambiguity, I think it was.) She was on a date! Can you guess who with?

I don't know who Tchampon is *sounds like tampon - eeks* and don't know whose daddy he is, and, I do vaguely remember Wilspy being all done up at one point but don't remember a whole lot else - you may need to throw me a road map! I seem to have taken a detour into a landfill - becuase I am completely bewildered!In addition - side note - VERY, very curious, worried what Snape and Gertie are up to... and got all tingly when he had to hug her - that's got to be really gnarly for her, the DE who chopped her arm, hugging her in a side-along.Oh - and, well, the dinner party. I know I'm silly sometimes but there was something about several of the party members having carnal knowledge of others that wigged me out - like Albus having been with Gertie and Minerva too and Poppy having been with Filius, Quin AND Severus.... I don't know, just doesn't seem normal - so I was a big buggy. Too much intimacy in a casual setting for my taste - not complaining, just.... well, I guess I am complaining! ACK! Don't hate me, I still wuv you and RaM Everybody!

LOL! That is funny! It did cross my mind, but I only saw it as amusing, not disturbing. It's not as though it was all happening at the same time or they had been partner-swapping or something, you know! Albus & Gertrude was a love affair of sorts in the 40s, which was well over 50 years before this; Poppy & Filius only made love once, and that was back in 1961, and she & Quin, likewise only once. It's not like they're all in some kind of swingers' club! LOL! I would hope that people could remain friends after such things -- particularly when they worked together, not to mention the fact that wizarding society is somewhat closed, and there are a lot of Dark-lovers around that you'd want to avoid. Try not to read the stories as though it's all happening simultaneously even though you're reading it all in a very short time. There's decades covered here.

It's also just fiction! Meant to be fun & entertaining!

And Tchampon doesn't sound like tampon to me, though it does rhyme. Tch is like an extra-hard ch- sound, like in "champion," which is what it reminds me most of. :-)

Not going to tell me about who he's related to? I is confuzzled!

Hee! Well, I can't leave

in a state of confuzzlement, now, can I!But I'll let RaM tell you. This is from a rather extended conversation Minerva has with Blampa toward the beginning of the chapter, "A Spree":“Have you always lived at Hogwarts, Blampa?” Minerva asked curiously.“Mostly, yes. When I, Blampa, be’s a baby, I lives with my mother and her sister, but then I moves to Hogwarts and be’s with my father and be’s a Hogwarts house-elf,” Blampa explained.“I see …” Minerva didn’t entirely, but she wasn’t sure whether it would be polite to inquire any further. “Do you see your mother and your aunt very often?”“I, Blampa, sees them three times. Maybe I sees them again someday. But I, Blampa, be’s proud to be a Hogwarts house-elf with my father.”“Who is your father?” Minerva asked.“Tchampon. Tchampon sad now. His Professor leaves soon. Tchampon very good with creatures. Loves creatures and beasties and sky and wind and sun. When his Professor leaves, Tchampon not knowing if he works still with beasties and in the wind and sun. He be’s a good house-elf, but he doesn’t like serving inside so much,” Blampa said, almost whispering.“Would it help if I mentioned this to the Headmaster? I am sure that the new teacher will need a house-elf, and he would probably like to have a house-elf who enjoys working with creatures,” Minerva said.Blampa hesitated, then said, “Tchampon likes working with beasties and not inside. He be’s the best house-elf when he is with beasties and such.”“Well, I’ll mention it, then. We’ll see if Hwouly can arrange to have him continue to serve the new teacher. And I will make sure that the new teacher knows that he is good with the creatures so he doesn’t only have him serving him tea,” Minerva said.

So Twiskett is I, Blampa's son - who is daddy? Is I, Blampa related to Wilspy?I miss Wilspy.

I, Blampa, is sadly not related to Wilspy, except perhaps distantly! I, Blampa and cross ol' Kreffent got hitched and turned out a few wee house-elves, including Twiskett (b. May 1961).

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww, house-elf lovins! I'd love to hear more about house-elf romance, and wedding ceremonies! Glad a cross ole buggar made a young elfie happy!

Kreffent was only a few years older than Blampa, but he was always a bit of a cross ol' elf even when he was very young. Blampa managed his crossness, though, and softened him up a bit!Here's what she says of Kreffent back in 1957:“Well, that’s good. And you are a good house-elf, Blampa. You have some friends, too, don’t you?” Minerva asked, taking another sip of her tea.“Yes, I, Blampa, has friends.”“Here, why don’t you sit down. Keep me company while I finish my tea,” Minerva suggested. She smiled when Blampa perched on the edge of the tub. This little elf had come a long way since the beginning of the summer, she thought. “The house-elves you brought with you that time—Polky and Kreffy and … I don’t remember the other one’s name,” Minerva said apologetically.“Polky, Stanga, and Kreffent, Professor. They be’s friends a long time. Polky and Stanga mostly. Kreffent sometimes has bad attitude, our Hwouly says. But I likes him anyway. He be’s bored all the time,” Blampa said, swinging her legs.“Is he your, um … a boyfriend?” Minerva didn’t know very much about house-elf relationships outside of those in her own family.Blampa giggled, covering her mouth with both hands. “No, Blampa not have boyfriends yet. Kreffent be’s cross too much to be a happy boyfriend.”

Dawwww - he's Grumpy the house-elf!

Hey, that's all Poppy! She can be quite the naughty witch! hee!

Yes, poor Sev! But he did decide to go ahead with it!

He is a better man than I! Of course, that's not saying a whole lot, since I'm female... *winks*Still - I'd have walked out! Yer keepin me on me toes woman! haha!

Well, other than the being surrounded by love business, he didn't have a problem with it. He just dislikes all that mushy stuff! LOL! Being seen as loveable is just too hard for him! And he did push her to say more than just that he wasn't the vigilante. Plus, he was very interested in what she had to say about the vigilante & that he knows her & will discover her identity.She kept the really private stuff for later. Aine sees no problem with being loved, and she thinks Severus needs to know he's genuinely loved, so she thought it was likely good for him to hear it. And, of course, since most of the people there at the dinner who know him do love him, it came as no surprise! Albus, Minerva, Gareth, Poppy, and Filius all love him -- even Pomona has rather warm feelings toward him. Aren't you glad he didn't kill Albus & become a pariah amongst his colleagues, then die a nasty, ignominious death? (Hmmm . . . I wonder where that notion came from! Must have been a nightmare! haha!)

Now now, don't start spouting off vulgarity about Albus dieing! *tutts* That's part of what I love about RaM-verse - Albus lives! And I too like your rendition of Severus' continued existence - so stop taking those nightmare pills!

LOL! I will! (And maybe recast my Muggle version of the Obliviate so that those bizarre thoughts don't creep in again!)

Thanks very much! I've always liked the Aine "in my head," so I'm glad that when she appeared in the story, she is likeable!Maybe we will see more of her, you never know!

Yes, often, I think, and the occasional man can write women! (I love Alexander McCall Smith. Love him. Love him. Love him. I just adore his books, especially his "No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" series.)Sorry about the OT plug! But I'm glad you enjoyed finding out who the author was! And why Gareth's always amused that Severus likes the books so much!

Glad you liked that! ;-)

Maybe it's an effect of being in love? lol!

She was really struck speechless, but she tried to be kind about it, and she did appreciate him telling her, even if she would have preferred not to have known. And Severus does feel as though he can tell her almost anything -- though he had a few moments when he really wished he hadn't mentioned this!

You're not kidding!

To address the last bit first: it was late, and she wanted to retire for the evening -- and get rid of her headache & snuggle up with Albus -- and she didn't want to leave it out in the open where Albus might see it and ask questions. She will return it to the library at some point, though she's in no hurry to do that.I'm glad you enjoyed seeing Minerva here, and how her character came across to you. She is a pleasure to write, so I am glad she is also a pleasure to read! She is one of my two favorite canon characters, and all of those characteristics you named are part of what makes her so wonderful to me! Yes, Poppy & Severus together one last time before she leaves on holiday! I'm glad you liked that bit of a glimpse of them together, and Severus's comfort telling her he loves her.Thanks for the review!

I'm glad you liked seeing her again! She'll be in several upcoming chapters, so you'll get more Gertrude to love!

I'm glad you enjoyed that! They really are utterly in love with each other, and Severus is allowing himself to open up to it -- and to trust Poppy, at least in almost everything. Of course, just because you trust someone and want to be truthful, doesn't mean you have to tell them everything, but Severus does sometimes go to extremes, as Minerva said way back when, and as Poppy herself recognizes.Glad you liked Twiskett & the sandwiches! (I can sympathize with Severus not wanting to be seen in bed with Poppy by the house-elves! haha!)

I can relate to going to extremes... just like Billy Joel said "Darlin' I don't know why I go to extremes - too high or too low there ain't no inbetween."That seems to sum up my life - haha! Maybe Severus is bi-polar!

I can relate to going to extremes... just like Billy Joel said "Darlin' I don't know why I go to extremes - too high or too low there ain't no inbetween."That seems to sum up my life - haha! Maybe Severus is bi-polar!

Nah, not that kind of extremes, but when he decides to do something -- whether it's love someone or hate them, he goes to extremes. He throws himself into something, and when he decides to be loyal, he's 100% there, when he decides to betray, there's no hesitation. He does have some tendency toward depression, but that's as much environmental as anything.

Exactly: because a) all of his emotions are so close to the surface, and b) because he's terrified of all the good feelings, both having them and losing them, as odd as that may sound!Poppy's very patient, and she's seen him at his very lowest. Still, she's quite sensitive, too, and at some point, there can be emotional overload for her, too.

b - doesn't sound odd - in fact, it sounds very logical. If you're not used to feeling so good, and you know there is a possibility of losing that "good thing" fear would be natural. It makes sense, I just wish he'd choose to talk about these things at more opportune times - though, in that castle, its been rare for them to get many opportunities to talk (or anything else) uninterupted!And I am VERY curious what her middle name is. *grins*

Glad you understand!Teehee! Enjoying the name-game, huh?

I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter!At least Severus was as open as he could be with Poppy -- as open as he felt he could be, anyway. Poor Minerva with her worries about Severus, her lingering headaches from the battle, and her revulsion at the Dark ritual in the book. As you say, at least she will be able to curl up with Albus and wash it all away with his comforting embrace!Thanks!

Yes, she hasn't responded yet! He will persevere, however. I think this is three times now, if you include the "I adore you" in the empty office before the party.Glad you enjoy the banter! There is a nice light element in their relationship, and the guessing game helps there.

*snip*“Not at all. Severus Sebastian Snape.”Now THAT is a sexy name! Sebastian, Santiago and Rafael can all put me under the table with the sheer sexiness... Ooohhhh...

I find Sebastian a great name, myself!

Oh, and Poppy's suggestion was a funny one! haha!

Some men are like that, though -- superficial ones who want to go after the young, hot babes with big breasts (or whatever their personal fancy might be), while at the same time never noticing their own sagging jowls or the roll over their belt!But you're right: Severus is not like that. Not that he can't appreciate youthful feminine sexual attractiveness, but that's not what's important to him, nor what attracts him in the most fundamental way. And when it comes to Poppy, he sees her with loving eyes, and those eyes focus on her beauty and her essence.

Glad it gave you a giggle! hee! I hoped the image would elicit a smile or two!

LOL! Very good!

And I haven't mentioned in a while, but Suzie is adorable, and I have to agree with Severus, I am also surprised she wasn't sorted into Hufflepuff, or Ravenclaw - well, other than the notion she WANTED to be sorted into Slytherin.

She's also very ambitious, although I haven't had a suitable opportunity to display that ambition for her yet. And she's savvy about people, very good at reading them, very intuitive.

Intuitive... I see that more as a Ravenclaw trait, but... *shrugs* I can go with that.

Intuitive about people, which can be something many Ravenclaws are very bad at.

Really? Maybe a Huffle trait? I just don't see that only as Slytherin - Dumbledore is one of the most intuitive people in the HP world - but perhaps he bears strong traits in Slytherin, just not as strong as Gryffindor, I don't know. I also saw Flitwick as being incredibly intuitive.

Slytherins, good ones, would have to be good at reading people. Riddle was -- not that he's a great example! lol! Being able to judge your audience or companions and how to "manipulate" them is quite handy for a Slytherin. Hufflepuffs are more empathetic toward people, rather than intuitive -- not that they are mutually exclusive! Suzie was very shrewd about Patterson (in "The Sorting of Suzie Sefton"), earning some of Draco's appreciation for her -- hmm, there might be something Slytherin about this Muggle-born, after all! LOL! And she knew how to use this in her interaction with Patterson, putting a much older student in his place but without seeming to. Slytherin -- not that someone from another House wouldn't be able to do the same, but I think it's a very good trait for a Slytherin to have.

I guess I always thought myself to be rather intuitive - though I'm not always great at getting people to act as I'd like - my old roomie Suzie -oddly the same name as our young one here, was very slytherin, and not only would she get you to do what she wanted, you'd actually WANT to do it for her, she was THAT good at it... sneaky thing she was - very glad she wasn't nasty... but you had to be careful with her!Anyway, I just always saw myself as untuitive and not as Slytherin - but then again, I don't have a great gift with manipulation.

Yes, slightly frustrated there! lol!

*remains mum on the subject*I'm glad you enjoyed that passage!

It seems unlikely that there would not be one at this point. I think everyone is assuming there will be one.

Glad you liked that! ;-)

Awwwww! Poppy's parents - died doing some missionary type work - or traveling healing work, or what not - makes me so sad! Poor Poppy and Violet!So SAD!Heartwarming story, I like all this that Severus is hearing so he can feel empathy for others, see that others do have pain and obsticles to overcome...

Yes, Severus did have a good point there -- and he actually was honest with Poppy about it, too, which was a good step. He didn't just get angry and uncommunicative.I'm glad you liked the story of Poppy's family. I'd thought it would end up somewhere in RaM, but it never did. It fit well here, though, I thought!Thanks!

He had hated Sirius Black, so he didn't want to be in Gryffindor. His mother & grandfather & all the Princes (he thought!) had been in Slytherin, so he wanted to be in a "real" pureblood House. He never believed that any other House would be an option and he was focussed on Slytherin and his fixation on being as good as any pureblood, so that's how he was Sorted. If it had waited a year, not only would he have had another year to develop his personality (kids really develop a lot, and going away to school at 11/12 helps to form their personalities and bring out essential traits quite strongly) and he had a year to see what the other Houses were like, he could very easily have prized the qualities of Ravenclaw above those of Slytherin.Getting to know kids without having labels on them is a good thing -- good for adults, too! As soon as people have labels attached to them, others see them through that filter. So if you become friends with someone and they're Sorted into a different House from you, you're more likely to remain friends with them, or at least be kindly disposed towards their House, than you would have been to have made friends with them in the first place if the only contact you ever had with them was in class & Quidditch and you were set up initially to be rivals. It's human nature. This way, all the first-years identify first as first-years, all as a group, and not as a member of some House.

II'm glad you're not depriving yourself of the entire story just because Minerva is proposing a change to the House system -- which is a very, very minor point in the story! LOL!I think that Dumbledore, or someone, in the books says he wonders whether they don't Sort too young.

I seem to remember that somewhere in the books myself, by Dumbledore or Flitwick, I think... I haven't read all the way through the books in quite a while, but I generally do once a year, I'll keep my eye out for that - see who says it, but its likely Dumbledore.

Let me know if you do find it!